Manual operation assistance with earpiece with 3D sound cues

ABSTRACT

A method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece includes steps of identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by the earpiece, monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the earpiece, generating 3D sound cues at the earpiece to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/417,385, filed Nov. 4, 2017, and entitled “Manual Operation Assistance with Earpiece 3D Sound Cues”, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wearable devices. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to earpieces.

BACKGROUND

Real time audio feedback is a concept that would be of great use in many industries today. However, such feedback is not feasible in many instances, either because managers or instructors are too busy with other tasks or electronic devices which may be able to provide such feedback, such as smartphones, may be either too cumbersome or inappropriate for certain tasks. What is needed is a system and method that provides audio feedback in response to user performance for manual or prescribed tasks.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide audio feedback in response to user performance.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to monitor user performance such as using detected audio sensed with microphones, movement sensed with inertial sensors, or otherwise.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to or by an object, feature, or advantage stated herein.

According to one aspect a method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece includes steps of identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by the earpiece, monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the earpiece, generating 3D sound cues at the earpiece to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user. The 3D sound cues may be generated to be perceived as coming from a spatial location having a contextual relationship with the manual work operation by the user. The monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user may be performed by monitoring movement of the user during the manual work operation using one or more inertial sensors of the wireless earpiece. The monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user may be performed by monitoring audio of the user sensed by the earpiece during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the earpiece. The 3D sound cues include voice audio. The manual work operations may be associated with various purposes including therapy such as occupational therapy or physical therapy.

According to another aspect, a method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using a set of earpieces including a left ear piece and a right earpiece is provided. The method includes identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece, monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the left earpiece and the right earpiece, generating 3D sound cues to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the generating 3D sound cues is performed at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece, and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the left earpiece and one or more speakers of the right earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user. The 3D sound cues may be generated to be perceived as coming from a spatial location having a contextual relationship with the manual work operation by the user. The monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user may be performed by monitoring movement of the user during the manual work operation using one or more inertial sensors of the left wireless earpiece and one or more inertial sensors of the right wireless earpiece. The monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user may be performed by monitoring audio of the user sensed during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the left wireless earpiece and one or more microphones of the right wireless earpiece. The monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user may be performed by monitoring movement of the user during the manual work operation using one or more inertial sensors of the left wireless earpiece and one or more inertial sensors of the right wireless earpiece and monitoring audio of the user sensed by the earpiece during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the left wireless earpiece and one or more microphones of the right wireless earpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 includes a block diagram of one embodiment of the system

FIG. 2 illustrates the system including the left earpiece and the right earpiece.

FIG. 3 illustrates the right earpiece and its relationship to a user's ear.

FIG. 4 includes a block diagram of a second embodiment of the system.

FIG. 5 includes a flowchart of the method of providing voice feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An earpiece or set of earpieces may be used to provide voice feedback to a user and also to monitor and track the user's performance of a manual operation or task. The earpiece may assist with the manual operations by providing context-sensitive instructions. For example, where a user is to perform a task with their left hand, audio may be reproduced which sounds as if it is coming from the left of the user through audio processing where a source is appropriately placed. This may be used in any number of different contexts including training for any number of tasks, physical or occupational therapy, sports performance training, or otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 which includes an earpiece 12 having an earpiece housing 14, a processor 20 disposed within the earpiece housing 14, at least one sensor 16 that is operatively connected to the processor 20. The at least one sensor 16 may include an inertial sensor for such as an accelerometer, magnetometer, and/or compass. The sensors 16 may also include one or more microphones. One or more speakers 18 are operatively connected to the processor 20, wherein the processor 20 is configured to produce audio feedback at the speaker 18. The earpiece housing 14 may be composed of soundproof materials or any material that is resistant to shear and strain and may also have a sheath attached in order to improve comfort, sound transmission, or reduce the likelihood of skin or ear allergies. In addition, the earpiece housing 14 may also substantially encompass the outer opening of the ear canal of a user in order to substantially reduce or eliminate external sounds. In addition, the audio feedback or sounds provided by the speaker 18 may be produced in a three-dimensional manner. For example, if the audio feedback relates to poor foot positioning, the audio feedback may be provided in such a manner as the user will interpret the audio feedback as originating from the user's feet to provide additional contextual information. The processor 20 may be further configured to, in addition to producing audio at the speaker 18, process music or sounds stored within a data storage device or received through a radio transceiver, filter and/or process one or more ambient sounds, produce neutralization sound in response to body sounds or other unwanted sounds using destructive interference techniques at the speaker 18. The processor 20 may also produce additional audio feedback in response to one or more user movements sensed by the sensor 16. The user movements that prompt the additional audio commands may be preprogrammed or selected by the user or a third party.

FIG. 2 illustrates a pair of earpieces 12 which includes a left wireless earpiece 12A and a right wireless earpiece 12B. The left wireless earpiece 12A has a left earpiece housing 14A. The right wireless earpiece 12B has a right earpiece housing 14B. A sensor 16A is shown on the left earpiece 12A and a sensor 16B is shown on the right earpiece 12B. The sensors 16A and 16B may be located anywhere on the left earpiece 12A and the right earpiece 12B respectively and each sensor may be configured to sense motion of the user. The processor may map the user motion to performance of a manual operation. For example, movements or motions as determined by one or more accelerometers or other inertial sensors may be compared to acceptable movements for performing the manual operations. If detected movements or motions are outside of acceptable ranges then a determination may be as to the feedback to be given. This may include identifying changes that a user should make in order to improve their motions performed in the manual operations. Speakers 18A and 18B may be configured to communicate audio feedback 46A and 46B.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the right earpiece 12B and its relationship to a user's ear. The right earpiece 12B may be configured to minimize the amount of external sound reaching the user's ear canal 48 and/or to facilitate the transmission of the audio feedback 46B from the speaker 18B to a user's tympanic membrane 50. The right earpiece 12B may also be configured to be of any size necessary to comfortably fit within the user's ear canal. A sensor 16B is shown on the exterior of the right earpiece 12B. A gesture control interface 22 is also shown on the exterior of the earpiece and may provide for gesture control by the user or a third party such as by tapping or swiping across the gesture control interface 22, tapping or swiping across another portion of the right earpiece 12B, providing a gesture not involving the touching of the gesture control interface 22 or another part of the right earpiece 12B.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system 10 comprising an earpiece 12 having an earpiece housing 14. One or more sensors 16 may be present which are operatively connected to one or more processors 20. The sensors 16 may include one or more bone microphones, one or more air microphones 24, one or more inertial sensors 33, one or more electromyography (EMG) sensors 34, one or more infrared sensors 36, or other types of sensors. Amongst other purposes, the sensors 16 may be used to provide contextual feedback during a user's performance of a work operation.

A processor 20 is disposed within the earpiece housing 14, a gesture control interface 22 with at least one emitter 42 and at least one detector 44 is operatively connected to the one or more processors 20. A radio transceiver 26 disposed within the earpiece housing 14 is also operatively connected to the processor 20. The radio transceiver 26 may be a BLUETOOTH, BLE, Wi-Fi, or other type of radio transceiver. Another transceiver is 28 disposed within the earpiece housing 14 and may be operatively connected to the one or more processors 20. The transceiver 28 may be a magnetic induction transceiver such as a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver. A data storage device 29 may be disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the one or more processors 20. The data storage device 29 may store data to be used in analyzing performance of manual operations of the user or in providing audio feedback to the user. One or more LEDs 38 may be operatively connected to the one or more processors 20 to provide visual feedback.

The electromyography (EMG) sensor 34 may be present and configured to read myographic activity from a user to ascertain a facial or other physical gesture and communicate a signal related to the myographic activity to the processor 20. For example, the EMG sensor 34 may sense the electrical activity of a user's facial muscles during a struggle to accomplish a certain task or a problem the user is trying to solve and may submit the resulting readings to the processor 20, which may subsequently produce audio feedback at the speaker 18 to assist the user in fixing or eliminating the problem or alleviating any struggle the user may have. An infrared sensor 36 may also be employed to ascertain the movement of third-party objects or entities. Each sensor 16 may be positioned at any location conducive to receiving information and need not necessarily be in direct contact with either the user or the external environment.

One or more speakers 18 may be operatively connected the earpiece housing 14 and may be configured to, in addition to producing audio feedback in response to a command from the processor 20, produce one or more ambient and/or non-ambient sounds from one or more microphones 24, 32 or produce one or more audio signals from either the radio transceiver 26, the transceiver 28 or the data storage device 29. The produced sounds may consist of musical sounds, non-musical sounds, commentary, instructions, miscellaneous information, or anything else of interest or importance to the user. In addition, the audio feedback or sounds provided by the speaker 18 may be produced in a three-dimensional manner. For example, if the audio feedback relates to poor foot positioning, the audio feedback may be provided in such a manner as the user or third party will interpret the audio feedback as originating from the user's or third party's feet.

A processor 20 may be disposed within the earpiece housing 14 and operatively connected to components within the earpiece 12 and may be configured to, in addition to producing audio feedback, process signals from the radio transceiver 26, process signals from the transceiver 28, process signals originating from the data storage device 29, process signals from the bone conduction microphone 32, process signals from the EMG sensor 34, process signals from the infrared sensor 36, and process signals from the one or more inertial sensors 33.

A gesture control interface 22 having at least one emitter 42 and a detector 44 may be operatively connected to the one or more processors 20 and may be configured to allow the user or a third party to control one or more functions of the earpiece 12. For example, a menu may be prompted through the use of a gesture with the gestural control interface 22, which may allow the user or a third party to select one or more motions to sense, reprogram or reconfigure the audio feedback to be produced at the speaker 18, listen to a song either stored within the data storage device 29 or received through the radio transceiver 26, listen to a playlist, listen to a newscast or a podcast, listen to a weather report, obtain information on the user's current surroundings, or anything else that may be of interest to the user or a third party, and the aforementioned list is non-exclusive. The selections may be chosen through the use of one or more additional gestures or through the use of one or more voice commands from the user and/or a third party. The types of gestures that may be used with the gesture control interface 22 to control the earpiece 12 include, without limitation, touching, tapping, swiping, use of an instrument, or any combination of the aforementioned gestures. Touching gestures used to control the earpiece 12 may be of any duration and may include the touching of areas that are not part of the gesture control interface 22. Tapping gestures used to control the earpiece 12 may include one or more taps and need not be brief. Swiping gestures used to control the earpiece 12 may include a single swipe, a swipe that changes direction at least once, a swipe with a time delay, a plurality of swipes, or any combination of the aforementioned.

The emitters and detector may be optical emitters an optical detectors. Where optical emitters and detectors are used, additional information may be sensed in addition to gestures of a user. This may include position of the user relative to other objects, or the movement of other objects, or movement of a user in performing a work operation.

One or more microphones 24 may be operatively connected to the earpiece housing 14 and may be configured to receive ambient sounds from one or more outside sources, which may originate from the user, a third party, a machine, an animal, another earpiece, another electronic device, or even nature itself. The ambient sounds received by a microphone 24 may include a word, a combination of words, a sound, a combination of sounds, or any combination of the aforementioned. The sounds may be of any frequency and need not necessarily be audible to the user. In addition, one or more microphones 24 may also be configured to receive one or more voice commands which may be used to cease, commence, change, or modify one or more functions of the earpiece 12. For example, a voice command to cease receiving ambient sounds may be provided by the user or a third party saying, “Cease reception of internal ear sounds,” or a voice command to play the fifth song in a playlist may be provided by the user or a third party saying, “Play song five in playlist,” or “Skip to song five.” Other commands may be used to cease, commence, change or modify other functions of the earpiece 12.

A radio transceiver 26 may be disposed within the earpiece 12 and may be configured to receive signals from external electronic devices and to transmit those signals to the processor 20. The external electronic devices the radio transceiver 26 may be configured to receive signals from include Bluetooth devices, mobile devices, desktops, laptops, tablets, modems, routers, communications towers, cameras, watches, third-party earpieces, earpieces, other wearable devices, or other electronic devices capable of transmitting or receiving wireless signals. The radio transceiver 26 may receive or transmit more than one signal simultaneously.

A transceiver 28 may be disposed within the earpiece 12 and may be configured to receive signals from and to transmit signals to a second earpiece of the user if the user is using more than one earpiece. The transceiver 28 may receive or transmit more than one signal simultaneously. The transceiver 28 may be of any number of types including a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver.

One or more LEDs 38 may be operatively connected to the earpiece housing 14 and may be configured to emit light in order to convey information to a user concerning the earpiece 12. The LEDs 38 may be located in any area on the earpiece 12 suitable for viewing by the user or a third party and may consist of as few as one diode which may be provided in combination with a light guide.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one implementation of the method 100 of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece 100. First, in step 102, a manual work operation to be performed by a user is identified. This identification can occur in a number of different ways. For example, the user can indicate that the user is about to perform a particular manual work operation. This may be accomplished in various ways such as through receiving voice information from the user or by the user using the gestural interface of the earpiece to communicate to the earpiece that the user is about to perform a particular manual work operation. Alternatively, the manual work operation to be performed by a user may be identified using contextual information. Contextual information may include information sensed by the earpiece or any information sensed by or provided by another device in operative communication with the wireless earpiece. This may include ambient audio or motion data or biometric information sensed by the earpiece or other information such as from a mobile device such as location, or any other information. In step 104, performance of the manual work operation may be monitored. The types of performances that a sensor may monitor include a user's physical performance, which may include hand or arm motion, head or foot positioning, or the motion or positioning of another body part of the user or a third party, or the user's or a third party's task performance, which may include, for example, how far to raise a forklift when carrying a specified weight to a given destination, what type of screw to use when constructing a house, the number of heartbeats per minute when running, the number of miles remaining when running a specified distance, the number or reps remaining in a given weightlifting set, or many others. The aforementioned list is non-exclusive. For example, the earpiece may monitor whether the user's hands are properly aligned when swinging a baseball bat or a golf club, whether the user's feet are properly aligned when throwing a pass, the maximum number of pounds that, for example, a forklift can carry and lift without risking harm to either the user or the machine, or how many miles remain for either a specified distance or route when running or jogging. The user monitoring may include external sensors in addition to any sensors operatively connected to the earpiece. The external sensors may be in operative communication with the wireless earpiece through a transceiver of the wireless earpiece. If, in step 106, one or more user performances match one or more conditions necessitating audio feedback, then, in step 108, a processor generates audio feedback which may in the form of three dimensional sound cues. In step 110 the 3D sound cues are generated. Three dimensional sound processing allows for not just audio feedback to a user but also to position the perceived location of the sound cue in order to provide additional context to the user. For example, if the audio feedback is in the form of an instruction for the user to turn their head slightly to the right during a physical therapy session or occupational therapy session or sports performance training session, then the audio feedback may generated so that it is perceived as coming slightly from the right of the user. The audio feedback may be as simple as providing a simple, “Stop” when the user or a third party makes a mistake in either body positioning or task performance or may be more in depth, such as providing specific instructions when a user does not follow the required physical form when performing a task. For example, the earpiece may provide a simple, “Stop” instruction when the user or a third party uses the wrong type of screw when putting something together, or provide detailed instructions concerning the proper mechanics of a golf swing when the user or a third party fails to follow the correct form when swinging a golf club. The audio feedback may also be provided in a three-dimensional manner to assist the user or a third party in following the audio feedback. For example, if the user or a third party has poor foot positioning, the audio feedback may be provided such that the user interprets the voice feedback as originating from near the user's or third party's feet, or if the user or third party is improperly executing an instruction, the volume of the voice feedback may be correlated to how far off course the user or third party is in regards to the instruction.

It should be understood that either a single earpiece may be used or alternatively a set of wireless earpieces may be used. Although the earpieces shown are of an ear bud style configuration, although configurations may be used including headsets.

Therefore, methods, apparatus and system for providing audio feedback in response to a user performance of manual work operations have been shown and described. The present invention contemplates numerous variations, options, and alternatives. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece comprising steps of: identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user using contextual information from one or more sensors of the earpiece, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by the earpiece; monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user by mapping movement of the user during the manual work operation as determined using one or more inertial sensors to acceptable movement for performing the manual work operation, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the earpiece; generating 3D sound cues at the earpiece to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the 3D sound cues are generated to be perceived as coming from a spatial location having a contextual relationship with the manual work operation by the user; and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the 3D sound cues provide audio for the user to interpret as originating from a location associated with content of the audio feedback.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user is performed by monitoring audio of the user sensed by the earpiece during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the earpiece.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D sound cues include voice.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the manual work operation is associated with therapy.
 5. A method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using a set of earpieces including a left ear piece and a right earpiece, the method comprising steps of: identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user using contextual information from one or more sensors of both the left earpiece and the right earpiece, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece; monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user by mapping movement of the user during the manual work operation as determined using one or more inertial sensors to acceptable movement for performing the manual work operation, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the left earpiece and the right earpiece; generating 3D sound cues to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the generating 3D sound cues is performed by at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece and wherein the 3D sound cues are generated to be perceived as coming from a spatial location having a contextual relationship with the manual work operation by the user; and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the left earpiece and one or more speakers of the right earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the 3D sound cues provide audio for the user to interpret as originating from a location associated with content of the audio feedback.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user is performed by monitoring audio of the user sensed during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the left wireless earpiece and one or more microphones of the right wireless earpiece.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the monitoring the performance of the manual work operation by the user is performed by monitoring movement of the user during the manual work operation using one or more inertial sensors of the left wireless earpiece and one or more inertial sensors of the right wireless earpiece and monitoring audio of the user sensed by the earpiece during the manual work operation using one or more microphones of the left wireless earpiece and one or more microphones of the right wireless earpiece.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the 3D sound cues include voice audio.
 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the manual work operation is associated with therapy.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein a volume associated with the audio feedback is correlated to proximity of the manual work operation to the acceptable movement for performing the manual work operation.
 11. The method of claim 5 wherein a volume associated with the audio feedback is correlated to proximity of the manual work operation to the acceptable movement for performing the manual work operation. 